STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3220

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 1956
                                        H.D. 1
                                        S.D. 2




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B.
No. 1956, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to assist Hawaii's small
businesses.

     In particular, this bill:

     (1)  Places the small business regulatory review board and
          the small business defender in the Department of Budget
          and Finance for administrative purposes instead of the
          Legislature;

     (2)  Requires appointment of the Small Business Defender by
          the Governor subject to section 26-34, Hawaii Revised
          Statutes, instead of the President of the Senate and
          Speaker of the House of Representatives;

     (3)  Makes the law enacting the Small Business Regulatory
          Flexibility Act and the Small Business Defender
          permanent; and

     (4)  Appropriates funds for the Small Business Defender.

 
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     Your Committee agrees with the intent of this bill, which
supports Hawaii's small businesses as a vital component of the
State's economy, and finds that the bill will improve the climate
for small business in Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Deleting language making the appointment of the Small
          Business Defender by the Governor subject to section
          26-34, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as this provision
          applies to appointments of members of boards and
          commissions; and

     (2)  Providing that the Small Business Defender's salary is
          to be determined by the appointing authority, and
          deleting language stating that the Small Business
          Defender's salary is to be within the range of salaries
          paid to directors of the departments of the state
          government.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No.
1956, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it
pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1956,
H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

                                 Respectfully submitted on behalf
                                 of the members of the Committee
                                 on Ways and Means,



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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